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Soils & Fertilizers

Reminder: Submit Soil Samples before December 1 for Free Testing

November 4, 2022

There’s still time to get your soil samples to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services before Thanksgiving and take advantage of free testing. Samples received after November 30, 2022 through March 31, 2023—the peak soil testing season—are charged an analysis fee of $4 per sample. Before you get started, here is the recently developed Soil Sampling Tips for Homeowners.

Soil test kit

Get soil test kits at the Extension office
Soil test boxes, sample information forms, and instructions are available outside the front door at the Buncombe County Cooperative Extension office, 49 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville. 

Taking the sample
The instruction sheet, A Guide to Soil Sampling—A Soil Test Is Only as Good as the Soil Sample Taken!, explains how to take your sample. Using a clean, stainless steel or chrome-plated trowel, dig about 6 inches deep in 4 or 5 spots in the testing area. Place the soil samples in a clean plastic bucket or bowl and mix well. If the soil is wet, wait for it to dry out before mixing. Fill the soil test box to the fill line and label the box. If you still have questions about taking the sample, here is a short video:  How to Test Your Garden Soil.

Where to sample
Take several soil samples from different areas of your yard or garden and use a separate box for each sample. Suggested sample areas include: lawn, vegetable garden, flowerbeds, landscape trees and shrubs, roses, azaleas, rhododendrons, blueberries, and other fruits and berries. 

Complete the sample information form and mail
Complete an information form for each soil sample, note any lime applications you’ve made in the last 12 months, and indicate the Lawn and Garden Planting Code for the area sampled. You’ll also need to provide an email address to receive your results.

Place the information form on top of your soil test boxes in a cardboard box and mail to the address listed on the form. It is helpful to keep a record to remind yourself of where you took each sample.

After the lab has tested the soil samples, you will receive a test report with recommendations for fertilizer and pH amendment. During the winter it takes about one to two months to receive your test results.

More information
– A separate page on this website, includes links to all things related to soil testing by homeowners:  Soil Testing Information for Home Gardeners
– N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website:  https://www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/sthome.htm
– Soil Testing for Lawns and Gardens
by Charlotte Glenn, State Coordinator, NC Extension Master Gardener Program
Horticultural Science – NC State University

 

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Categories Soils & Fertilizers Tags soil test, soil testing

Gardening Video: Making and Using Compost at Home

October 4, 2021

Gardening in the Mountains presents:
Making and Using Compost at Home

Presenter: Phil Roudebush, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer

Composting keeps kitchen and yard waste out of the landfill and scales easily for home application. This video covers the basics of composting including; different methods, benefits, and what not to compost. It also provides tips for improving your operation, several resources for more information, and troubleshooting tips.

Video access:
To access this video on the Buncombe County Master Gardener website, click on the link below:

Making and Using Compost at Home

Or go to www.buncombemastergardener.org , click on the ‘Gardening Videos’ tab at the top of the page and select the video from the list provided.

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Categories Gardening Videos, Soils & Fertilizers Tags compost

Gardening Video: Feed the Soil—Using Soil Amendments and Conditioners

March 30, 2021

Gardening in the Mountains presents:
Feed the Soil—Using Soil Amendments and Conditioners

Check out the latest gardening video on the Buncombe County Master Gardener website.  Learn how soil amendments and conditioners can be used to improve heavy clay soils, overall soil quality, fertility, and plant health. To access this video, click on the link below:

Feed the Soil—Using Soil Amendments and Conditioners

Or go to www.buncombemastergardener.org , click on the ‘Gardening Videos’ tab at the top of the page, and select the video from the list provided.

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Categories Gardening Videos, Soils & Fertilizers Tags soil, soil amendments

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